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Monday, April 1, 2013

Let’s get serious, nothing about the word “fudge” sounds
healthy. Delicious, yes. But, healthy? Not a chance! Right?? WRONG! I’ve found
a way to make the sinful taste of chocolaty fudge 100% sinless! Plus, from prep
to plate, it only takes about 25 minutes to whip up. I promise, it’s not too
good to be true. You’re gonna love it!

Melt the coconut oil with warm water in a bain marie, or if
you don’t have one, place the coconut oil in a bowl. Then, set the bowl atop a
pot of hot water (the pot should be on your stove-top on low-medium heat).

Place all ingredients, including the melted coconut oil,
into a mixing bowl. Using an electric whisk (or a whisk attachment on an
electric mixing bowl), whisk everything together until a light and fluffy
texture is achieved (approximately 5 minutes).

Add about two tablespoons of the mixture to each foil cupcake
liner.

Top with the fruit, berries, or other desired toppings. (I
went with cashews)

Stick the full muffin/cupcake tin in the fridge for about 20
minutes, or until the chocolate has set and is firm.

Indulge!

PS: Storing should be done in the fridge, or else these
delicious goodies will melt!

Craving More?

If you love this recipe, you'll love all of my favorite recipes! They all possess the same theme - comfort food, healthified. Most of my recipe inspiration comes from Pinterest, and winds up on my Nutrish & Delish board and Facebook page, so go ahead and follow me for the latest additions!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Hey everyone! Since today is my one-year “bloggerversary” I’ve
decided to feature a unique post, answering the most common questions I’ve received
about cooking, weight loss, fitness, and everything in-between! If you’ve
contacted me before, you know that I love hearing from you. If you haven’t, don’t
be a stranger – I love hearing from you guys!

Question #1:

How did you learn how to make comfort food healthy?

After reaching 251 pounds, I realized I had to make a huge
lifestyle change. I knew that I would NEVER be the girl who loved eating the stereotypical
“health” foods, so I knew to be successful in my weight loss, I had to find a
way to healthify all of my unhealthy favorites: Trial and error is my best
friend! At first, I started with simple substitutions (Egg Beaters® instead of
regular eggs, Splenda® instead of Sugar, etc.) but once I got comfortable with
the idea of cooking, I got a bit more adventurous! The most important advice I
can give is to not be afraid of food/ingredient combinations – once you give
in to the idea of being open, everything else is easy-peasy!

Question #2:

Do you still struggle with your weight?

Every single day! Sure, there are days where I’d love to hit
up every fast food restaurant I drive by, but I don’t; and not because the food
isn’t tasty, but because it really doesn’t do much for me. For example, I could
go to Taco Bell and scarf down 1500 calories, but I’d be hungry again in a few
hours, and I’d feel miserable. Instead, I’ll whip up an awesome Taco casserole
that I’ve healthified, and feel full all night for a fraction of the calories!
I may even have room for dessert ;)

Question #3:

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting
their weight loss journey?

Take it slow. This isn’t a race, this is your life. Whether
you’re a size 12 or a size 20, you’re not going to reach your goal weight by
the end of the week – or even the end of the month! So, why kill yourself at the
gym or deprive yourself in the kitchen? All you’ll do is get burnt out and
revert back to your old ways. Here’s what you need to do: make a plan (a
realistic plan) and stick with it! I love 10-day goals. Here’s an example: In
the next 10 days, I’ll work out 5 times, have no more than 3 cheat meals, and try 2 new recipes. Give that a shot, and you’re much more likely to succeed!

Question #4:

What’s the best substitute for heavy cream?

Greek yogurt and seasonings! I’d be lying if I said that
plain Greek yogurt was delicious – it’s not. When I’m making Alfredo sauce or
any other cream based dish, I always turn to Greek yogurt, but I add my own
signature mixture of spices to give it awesome flavor.

Question #5:

I do fine with meals, but I snack all day – how do I get
that under control?

Who said snacking was a problem?! It isn’t! Eating the right
snacks does great things for your body, including giving you a metabolism
boost. I’m not saying you should much on Cheetos and Twinkies all day, but
keeping a stash of almonds, fruit, or raw veggies around will only help you on
your weight loss journey. Keep that in mind the next time you shame yourself
for snacking!

Question #6:

Where do you find cooking inspiration?

99.9% of my recipes come from Pinterest! What can I say, I’m
pin-happy. In addition to recipes, I also find workouts and fitness tips on
there too. If you haven’t started following me yet, you’re missing out!

Question #7:

I know I should eat healthy, but what about beverages? I get
tired of drinking water with everything.

I do too! I drink apple flavored green tea almost every
morning, and I love it. Plus, it’s a natural antioxidant and energy booster! Try it!

Many Thanks

It’s been a year, and I’ve fallen in love with blogging. I
love the support that I’ve gotten from my family, friends, and followers. From
the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much!

It's no secret that I love pasta bakes and Italian food! What I don't love are the calories and fats that come along with it... A few weeks ago, I got to thinking about one of my favorite dishes, Chicken Florentine, and ways to make it healthy. Here's what I came up with:

To begin, cube up your chicken breast into bite sized pieces
(skip this step if you opted for canned chicken). Once cubed to perfection,
cook the chicken in a skillet. While you’re doing that, cook your pasta
according to the package instructions.

In a separate bowl, you’ll combine the ricotta cheese, parmesan
cheese, and spinach. Mix everything up until a smooth consistency is achieved.

In a large pot, heat olive oil. Add whole wheat flour to
pot, and whisk for 30-seconds.

After whisking, add in your chicken broth, and stir until
thickened – usually between 2-3 minutes. Then, you can add in your lemon juice,
garlic, and seasonings (nutmeg, pepper, Italian seasoning, and oregano). Bring
mixture to a simmer.

Remove from heat, then add the blended cheese mixture from
step 2, as well as the cooked and cubed chicken, and boiled pasta.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Nothing screams "comfort food" like a piping hot plate of fettuccine Alfredo, right?! It's no secret that pasta with cream sauce is my absolute fave - in fact, it was a "danger dish" that played a huge role in my reaching 251 pounds. Now that I've embraced a much healthier lifestyle, and deliciously healthy cooking habits, I've found a way to make that "danger dish" a guilt-free treat - you're welcome! :)

Let's Get Started!Whipping up this sauce has never been easier - seriously! While you've got your pasta boiling, combine all ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, until desired temperature is reached. As you cook, stir occasionally. In a matter of minutes, you'll have a deliciously sinless, and oh-so-creamy, pasta dish on your stove top. The best part? Nobody will taste the difference! Give it a try, and see for yourself - Happy Cooking!

If you like this recipe, than you'll love all of my favorite recipes! Of course, all of my healthy cooking inspiration comes from Pinterest, and winds up on my Nutrish & Delish board; so be sure to follow me!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Everyday, I get several emails from readers asking me about the specific types of snacks I ate while I was losing weight. I always reply with the same types of answers, but since this is such a hot topic for my fans, I figured I'd take it one step further, by providing you with a crash course in snacking. Welcome to Healthy Snacking: 101!Get Real About SnackingLike I always tell people, I didn't get to be 100 pounds overweight because I hate food... I got that way because food rocks! I love to eat, and I'm not shy about it. I've seen those sites that tell you to spend your days snacking on things like homemade oatmeal balls or lemon water, and I just don't find that to be realistic. Every snack featured on my list is simple to get your hands on, totally delicious, and designed to curb your cravings!

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Thanks for stopping by!
I'm just an average gal with a passion for giving my two cents on everything from party planning to life lessons.
My three favorite things in the world are Saturday shopping trips, mango sorbet and bubble baths.
But, most importantly, I've got a passion for inspiring you with my creative thoughts and ideas!